The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has advised customers to adopt energy-saving practices to avoid high bills.

The company’s acting chief executive officer, Rekhiat Momoh, gave the advice during the EKEDC Customers Consultative Forum held on Thursday at the Apapa Business Unit in Lagos.

The forum attracted customers from various communities within the Apapa district, including Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amukoko, Badia, Ajegunle, Tolu, Plaza, Idewu, Odofin, Sari, Boundary and Apapa.

Ms Momoh, represented by the company’s chief financial officer, Joseph Esenwa, emphasised the importance of conscious electricity consumption, particularly in the face of rising energy demands and the ongoing transition to prepaid metering systems.

“Efficient energy use is key to reducing electricity bills,” said Ms Momoh. “We encourage our customers to turn off appliances when not in use, embrace energy-efficient devices, and avoid leaving lights or electronics on unnecessarily.”

She also highlighted the benefit of prepaid meters, which allow customers to monitor their consumption in real time.

Ms Momoh also addressed concerns over the higher tariffs associated with Band A, explaining that the pricing reflects the true cost of doing business, including all operational expenses.

She acknowledged the financial burden higher tariffs place on customers but stressed that it enables the company to provide a more reliable service — a long-standing demand from the public.

“The key issue is simple: people have consistently asked for more power, and Band A allows us to serve them better.

” Naturally, when bills are higher, customers will complain, but we have to accept that these costs are part of doing business. We must ensure that we continue providing power despite the challenges,” Ms Momoh explained.

The EKEDC boss reiterated the company’s commitment to improving service quality and addressing the ongoing challenges related to power outages, metering, and customer complaints.

On the issue of recurring system collapse, Ms Momoh explained that while customers often blame the distribution company, it typically occurs due to problems within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

She said that despite not having control over the national system failures, EKEDC was committed to managing customer expectations and minimising the impact of such disruptions.

Ms Momoh also addressed the ongoing challenges with metering, admitting that achieving full metering across the network would take considerable time due to financial constraints and the high cost of acquiring meters.

She explained that many meters were imported, and the rising cost of foreign exchange had driven up prices.

“Metering is not something we can achieve overnight. It requires significant cash flow, and unfortunately, the response rate from customers to purchase their own meters has been lower than expected.

“While EKEDC is working toward full metering, the company has been transparent about the challenges and acknowledges that it will take time to meet the demand,” she explained.

The EKEDC boss added, “As part of its ongoing efforts to improve service delivery, EKEDC has urged customers to update their Know Your Customer (KYC) information.”

(NAN)